Chapter 19: Chapter 19
Hello!
My wonderful readers, I hope this day finds you all in a good mood. If not I hope this chapter will help to alleviate whatever may be plaguing you. I must say I braved a very hot summer day, and almost a 2 hr bike ride to bring you this chapter, given that I have no internet at home.
Best,
SW.
Of Discussions and Unexpected Visitors
Time is truly relative. I found myself immersed in the endless amounts of details the shaping of the new Wizarding Order required. Every law contained hundreds of articles. It was all about phrasing and meaning. Soon I couldn't get early enough to his office, which in a matter of days became our office, the contrast between my tiny handwriting and his elegant script all too obvious in each piece of paper. It appeared every scattered document had become a battlefield where ink was the weapon and words the causalities; most of which were left pierced and bleeding by one of two quills.
Agreement between the factions was to be found only in the dot at the end of a particular sentence. Commas became an irksome topic, always demanding our attention. Days soon became weeks and then months.
"Seriously Hermione, what is it with you and magical creatures? Trolls and giants are dumb creatures, incapable of even the most basic form of civilization, they won't mind doing some of the hard work needed to build the new Ministry Headquarters, and help control the dragon breeding facilities. Stop being so difficult! " Tom said impatiently.
Since I could no longer sit in a regular chair for long periods of time, given my second trimester was showing, I found myself verbally sparring from a plush sofa, feet raised over a pillow; with swollen feet and aching joints. Being in this position was particularly galling for I had to literally look up to Tom, who sat in his sleek black chair, with impeccable robes and no discomfort to distract his sharp mind. I should've anticipated Tom would push the most important matters when I was at a disadvantage.
"Regardless of their alleged lack of intelligence…"I deadpanned.
"Alleged! For Merlin's staff woman! Those creatures have been proven to be dimwits by generations of wizards," he argued.
I lowered my feet from the couch so I could sit straight and face him. With effort I avoided wincing when my feet touched the cold marble floors. I calculated his expression, as always his spotless mask was in place; upon closer inspection, I found the left corner of his cheek was fighting to maintain its impassiveness.
I frowned, rested my hands on my knees and sighed.
"I am glad you find our discussions invigorating and even funny Tom, but this matter is of grave importance as we both know it. You take me for the fool if you suppose that just because we have been in this room for the last eighteen hours straight, I will miss the importance of a matter such as this. I would let you do this if you were truly planning on demanding from those magical creatures just what that paper says you will. But I know better. You are going to build the new Ministry with giant and troll might, and when everything is in place you will kill them all and use their blood to harden the rocks. No one would be able to breach that building, ever. According to Warlock Wentroung, if I remember correctly in theory, 'the annihilation of an entire magical species would lent the perpetrator of such a marvelous feat a tenth of the lifespan of each individual within the species, plus added magical strength.' Adding to this, on the dragon breeding program you are planning on creating smart dragons capable of speech and shape shifting. The magical world faced with the loss of a couple of magical species would ensure the magic was transferred to the nearest available creature. Even you know it is impossible for a single wizard to take on that much amount of magic, so my guess is that by the time you eradicate the giants and the trolls, a multitude of dragon eggs would just happen to be lying around ready to take the influx of power. What I cannot understand is why on Earth you would want to have intelligent dragons. They are a force to be reckoned with without added intelligence or power. Granting them the ability to shape shift would be giving them ridiculous amounts of power. It is madness," I reasoned. "Besides you know quite well that the generations of wizards who have agreed upon the giants'' and trolls' lack of intelligence are bigots who also agreed that muggleborns were also 'incapable of the necessary intelligence to carry out any sort of enchantment or potion of a complex nature.' If you are going to base your argument on biased sources the discussion is not worth my time."
For an instant I remained still gathering what energy was left in my body to rise from the couch. In the meantime, a full blown smirk appeared on his face.
"I had missed these conversations, Hermione. Sit we still have much to discuss before the night is over. We must at least finish with the magical creature section."
I scoffed at the mere suggestion.
"That is a task that would take regular legislators, at least a month of hard work," I complained.
He arched an eyebrow at me, looked back at the paper he was reading and proceeded to get some more papers from the stack in his desk.
"You are right, my dear. But I am certain between the both of us, if we both compromise on certain aspects of the law, we could be done with at least the framework by sunrise," as he said this he looked into my eyes.
"Tom being realistic, even if we agreed on everything we would not finish half of that by noon tomorrow," I stated and proceeded to walk towards the door.
He continued scanning the papers.
"You are right, which is all the more reason not to stop tonight. Take a seat, or even better leave and I am sure I will have all of this revised and approved by the time you wake tomorrow morning. Just know that if you leave this room, I don't want to hear your complaints on how things turned out," as he said this in his sweetest voice, he made sweeping motions with his hand, indicating I was free to leave.
I sighed loudly and went to take a sit; we were in for a very long night.
As I sat my swollen ankles complained on the added pressure the motion caused and I couldn't help the whimper which escaped my mouth.
In an instant Tom was by my side.
"What is it?" he said in a deceptively detached voice.
"Nothing, Tom. Go back to your desk. As I was saying I disapprove of the Trolls and Giants Working Initiative…"
He cast a nonverbal spell; a blue mist circled my ankles. He visibly relaxed, and without another word he sat on the couch next to me and started massaging my tired feet.
I sighed in contentment. It hurt but the good sort of hurt, the kind that allows you to ride on a wave of relief, pleasure and pointed pain. It was just the sort of relish babies and kids experience when a new tooth is coming out and they bite something with their demanding red gums.
I allowed myself to be lost in the excruciatingly delicious feel of his hands on my feet. His thumbs massaged my feet in circular motions. He applied the right amount of pressure with his knuckles to the balls of my feet.
"You know Tom, there is no need for you to do that. There is a spell which would have the same effect," I chided him.
He just looked at me, his eyes burning.
"You should've told me you were tired and I should have remembered we are not in Hogwarts anymore. Your body cannot handle the same sort of schedule you used to pass your NEWTS," he admonished.
"Pass?! How dare you? You might be confusing me with some of your fellow Slytherins. I did not study to pass" I said derisively. "I studied to excel; anyhow please use the spell so we can carry on."
"No," he repeated with force. "We both know that spell would ordinarily take energy from the magic in your body. Magic which your body at this point in time lacks, which would mean it would take the energy from your body ensuring next time the pain and exhaustion will be heightened."
"But Tom, we have to get this sorted tonight, you said so yourself."
At my words the room darkened, the temperature lowered and his eyes became molten pits.
"There is nothing so urgent that would make me compromise your well being. If I do it this once, with you and your demented sense of duty and responsibility, soon it will become an everyday thing, till your body just shuts down, you are not who you once were," he whispered with a pinch of revulsion in his voice.
To hear that in his tone was like a swift stab to my heart. I stood, disentangling my legs from his hands, and sat in the chair opposite to his dark one. I would be dammed if I allowed him to underestimate me. Revulsion! How dare he? It was his fault I was in the state I was in. I whirled around to face him.
"Let us continue working, Lord Voldemort!" I raged bowing mockingly as low as my belly would allow me. "You have finally met your match; it must be so disgusting to you that the one person you met your match in is a muggleborn who has lost her magic, thus becoming a muggle.Even if I am not the witch I was once, I am still the same woman; my mind is just as bright as yours. I am and have always been your equal. So don't you dare, start being condescending with me. You insufferable prick!"
From his spot on the couch, he looked at first surprised, and then to my utter amazement concern crossed his features, to be replaced by disgust. He stood and walked slowly to me. He grabbed his wand and put it inside his robes, approaching me with small calculated steps.
"Hermione," my name in his lips was both strong and alluring. "Stop this nonsense at once, you emotional woman. I know you are my match. Use that head of yours, if I considered you to be anything less, would I allow you to be in my presence, let alone work with me?"
His quiet tone instilled tranquility to my agitated soul. He continued to advance slowly towards me.
"That wasn't a rhetorical question. I want an answer," he demanded.
"No, you wouldn't," I admitted crossing my arms over my chest and turning my back to him.
When he reached me, he enveloped my frame in his, allowing me to rest against his chest.
"You are tired. I shouldn't have let you tire yourself as you have. We are going to take things at a slower pace. Whenever you need a break let me know, there are many other things which I have to do. I got carried away with our stimulating debates. It won't happen again I promise. Stop crying. It makes you look ugly. I cannot have my fiancé be ugly. If you don't stop this nonsense I might have to reconsider your marriage proposal," his voice had an air to it, which matched the smile I could hear in his voice.
"I am not crying. It is ludicrous of you to even suggest that I am."
At my words he spun me around and with his index finger removed something from my cheek.
"You are right, you are not crying, this must be condensation from fairy dust" he taunted.
The crystalline orb on his finger was entirely unknown to me. I raised my hands to my cheeks and found he was right. I had been crying.
Unexpectedly his lips met mine.
"What was that for?"
"You look good when you discover I am right and you are wrong about something. I must make sure it happens more often. Besides, adding a blush to your cheeks makes you look perfect."
It was strange having him call me perfect. I was certain I looked terrible, with the added weight and all red faced after crying. He was the epitome of perfection, all long limbs, bright eyes and dark hair.
He laughed.
"I do enjoy when your thoughts roam in my direction. Come, it is past time we had dinner."
Flustered I made to move towards the door, but he stopped me and in one careful motion lifted me up from the floor carrying me in his arms through the door.
As we were having dinner in the terrace under the moon, a Death Eater interrupted us.
"My Lord, you have a visitor," the masked figure informed.
A slight shift in Tom's voice and manner betrayed his mood.
"Have them return tomorrow, and let them know they will sorely pay for the interruption," he threatened.
"I wou.. would, my Lord," the man's voice wavered. "But he insisted he would wait to be showed in out of respect alone."
Tom's semblance darkened.
"Hermione, I'll be back shortly," he said, kissing my brow, leaving his cutlery and standing.
Before I could respond another voice intervened.
"Tom, my dear friend, there is no need for you to stand to greet me. By all means, it appears I have arrived just in time to join you two for dinner."
A chair materialized. I didn't have to look to know who it was. A mixture of relief and misgiving enveloped my heart.